Driving School Guide - Get On Track!

We're not talking about ride-alongs, pace laps, or simply "experiences" with little instruction; we kept our roundup to just those programs that are designed around molding inexperienced students into knowledgeable drivers ready to handle a multitude of driving situations, as well as advance toward autocross and open-track racing. Are you ready to learn how to really drive your hot rod? Here are our top 23 schools in alphabetical order.

Car Guys
301-984-8300www.CarGuys.com
Track: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY; Lowe's Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC; Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA; Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV
Cars: Students provide their own cars, which must pass a thorough safety inspection. A checklist is available on the website.
Programs and Pricing: Decisive Driving Program
Factoid: Car Guys claim that their school is based on the pattern of Porsche Club of America (PCA) and BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) schools. Editor Hunkins has attended this several times, and gives it a strong thumb's up.

5/28

Faasst Performance Driving School
719-761-1372www.Faasst.com
Tracks: Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO; High Plains Raceway, Byers, CO; Roebling Road Raceway, GA; Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA; MotorSport Ranch, Cresson, TX; Mid-America Motorplex, Sandia Motor Speedway, Albuquerque, NM; Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA; European Rally School & Motorsport Park, FL; Circuit at Grand Bayou, Belle Rose, LA; Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL; Harris Hill Road, San Marcos, TX; Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WI; Arroyo Seco Raceway, Deming, NM
Cars: Students generally provide their own cars which must pass a safety inspection, though Faasst can set drivers up with rentals. The SCCA/NASA Accredited Racing School requires a race-prepared car with a log book and annual tech sticker, or proof of a recent tech inspection recorded in the log book.
Programs and Pricing: Bronze High Performance Driving Package, $425-$525; Silver High Performance Driving Package, $695-$895; Gold SCCA/NASA Accredited Racing Package, $795-$995
Competition Licensing: Faasst is an SCCA and NASA accredited racing school, so the one-day racing school counts as one school requirement toward an SCCA racing license or as a full completion requirement of a NASA provisional race license.
Factoid: The underlying theme of the Faasst Performance Driving School is derived from a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Bertil Roos Racing School
800-722-3669www.RaceNow.com
Track: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Milville, NJ; Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA; Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
Cars: Formula 2000
Programs and Pricing: Drive-your-own-car, $495; 1/2-day AM Adventure, $525; 1/2-day PM Adventure, $550; 1-day Adventure, $1,195; 3-day Road Racing School, $3,395; 2-day Advanced Road Racing School, $2,295; 5-day Road Racing Race Week, $5,195
Competition Licensing: Upon completion of the 2-, 3-, or 5-day advanced schools, drivers will have fulfilled all of the requirements for regional and/or national SCCA Competition licenses. Five-day grads are eligible to enter the Roos Formula 2000 Racing Series.
Factoid: Bertil Roos is one of the only schools that offers intensive five-day packages for those serious about competition. They believe that shorter durations just aren't enough training, and the seat time to proclaim a rookie truly ready to race competitively is required. Also, Roos says they are the only school in North America that does not have any car damage liability or hidden insurance costs in any of its beginner programs, which can take some of the fear out of learning to push the limits.

Bridgestone Racing Academy
905-983-1114www.Race2000.com
Track: Mosport Driver Development Center, Pontypool, Ontario, Canada
Cars: Chrysler Crossfire SRT6, Van Diemen Formula racer
Programs and Pricing (Based on USD to CAD conversion at time of press): 2-day Advance to Racing, $2,832.67; 1/2- and 1-day Lapping Practice, $875.73-1,756.35; 1/2- and 1-day Private Coaching $2,245.59-3,908.99; 1/2-day Single Race Day, $1,756.35; 1-day Double Race Day, $2,539.13; 3-day Race License Course, $3,908.99
Competition Licensing: The three-day Race License Course qualifies grads for SCCA or CASC race license. The school is also accredited for further advancement toward National or Pro licenses.
Factoid: Mosport was specifically designed to be a driver development track and features 24 unique configurations. It's technically located just across the border in Canada, but it's really only a short distance from the Great Lakes and upper Northeast areas.

11/28

Driving Concepts
949-489-0500www.DrivingConcepts.com
Track: Willow Springs International Raceway, Rosamond, CA; Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA; Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Bakersfield, CA; California Speedway, Fontana, CA.
Cars: Students bring their own cars, which must pass a safety inspection.
Programs and Pricing: 2-day Advanced Racing and Competition School at Willow Springs for experienced drivers, $495; 1-day High Performance Driving School in your own car, $395.
Competition Licensing: Completion of the two-day Advanced Racing and Competition School in addition to the requisite previous schooling or training will fulfill NASA and BMW CCA requirements.
Factoid: The Advanced Racing and Competition School program is open to qualified candidates only, which means prospective students need to submit an application with proof of completion of at least one High Performance Driving School, or a log of previous training and racing experience. The class has a high emphasis on transitioning drivers from solo and open track sessions to real fender-fender, nose-to-tail close quarters racing for competition preparation.

Danny McKeever's Fast Lane Driving School
888-948-4888www.RaceSchool.com
Track: Willow Spring Raceway, Rosamond, CA
Cars: Fast Lane has their own race-prepared Toyota Celicas, or students can also bring their own car to drive for all or part of the class.
Programs and Pricing: 1/2-day High Performance Driving School, $495 ($295 driving your own car); 1-day High Performance Driving School, $895; 2-day High Performance Driving School, $1,795; 2-day Road Racing Experience, $1,795; 3-day High Performance Advanced Road Racing, $2,595; Lapping sessions are also available.
Competition Licensing: Graduates of one of Fast Lane's SCCA-accredited courses are eligible for licensing recommendation and can apply to SCCA for their Novice Permit.
Factoid: President/CEO of the school, Danny McKeever, started teaching for the California Sports Car Club region of SCCA racing school over 40 years ago and is also the current chief instructor for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race.

14/28

Jim Russell Racing Drivers School
800-733-0345www.JimRussellUSA.com
Track: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA
Cars: FRJ-50, Lancer Evolution X
Programs and Pricing: High Performance Driving Course, $995; Lancer Evolution X Experience, $995; Grand Prix Masters, $995; 3-day School of Racing, $4,795, 3-day Advanced School of Racing, $5,495; Data Masters, $3,295
Competition Licensing: After successful completion of a 3-day School of Racing, students are eligible for an SCCA racing license. The real goal of many Russell students, however, is to climb the ladder to the Jim Russell Championship Series and eventually earn a seat in the FIA Formula Two Championship, representing the Jim Russell Future Driver team. F2 is the final rung on the ladder to Formula One.
Factoid: The FRJ-50 blasts 0-60 well within 4 seconds and 0-100 times in under 9 seconds, thanks to a power-to-weight ratio equal to 645hp per ton. That coupled with efficient aerodynamics means cornering forces can be
as much as 3 g. No worries though, the AP Racing brakes will bring it all to halt from 100 mph in less than 175 feet.

15/28

Miller Motorsports Park
435-277-8000www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com
Track: Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, UT
Cars: Mustang GT, Mustang FR500S, Ford 500, and Focus
Programs and Pricing: Ford Racing High Performance Driving School: 1-day, $1,495, 2-day, $2,795, 3-day, $3,995; Race Licensing school, call for pricing
Competition Licensing: Miller Park Racing Association (MPRA) racing license, which is recognized by other sanctioning bodies including the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Recommendation for a Grand Am license is also possible.
Factoid: Miller Motorsports Park is the home of the Miller Mustang Challenge, which means drivers in race school are in the same spec Mustang FR500S and on the same track as race series competitors. According to Miller, the full track layout is also the longest road racing course in North America.

16/28

The Mid-Ohio School
877-793-8667www.MidOhio.com
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH
Cars: Acura TSX, Honda S2000, Honda Civic EX Coupe
Programs and Pricing: High Performance Course, $750 ($625 with your car); Advanced High Performance Course, $850 ($725 with your car); 2-day High Performance Program, $1,450 ($1,225 with your car); 2-day Advanced High Performance Program; $1,620 ($1,275 with your car); 3-day High Performance Program, $2,345 ($1,875 with your car); Competition Licensing School, $1,000 ($470 using your competition car); Competition Course, $695 with your race car; Open Track, Test and Tune, and Private Coaching Sessions are also available.
Competition Licensing: Students who complete the three-day Acura High Performance Program, Lapping Program, or comparable program before enrolling in the Competition Licensing School will receive their NASA Competition License upon successful completion.
Factoid: The Mid-Ohio School is one of the only schools that allow students to use their own cars at every high-performance driving level, and their own competition-prepared cars for the racing programs.

Trackmasters
607-734-4471www.Trackmasters.com
Track: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY
Cars: Your car
Programs and Pricing: Open Track and Novice or Intermediate school, $270; Open Track only with no school, $290
Factoid: Trackmasters states they teach car control dynamics and high-performance driving, not racing, but many of the techniques carry over into competition. Open Track format allows highly experienced and licensed competition drivers four-plus hours of track time per day. Drivers who meet qualifications for Trackmaster's Open Track programs can expect four hours or more of track time per day.